*Click*
The sound of the feather-nibbed pen hitting the table echoed in the chamber.
*click*
*click*
*stab*
"Nanny, don't you think that something is missing? I asked for something very specific to be brought to me. Do you not remember? Or, are you falling victim to your old age and declining memory?"
The guard outside the door flinched at the acidic tone of the princess.
He felt bad for the nanny but dared not enter the princess's office.
"I apologize, princess. I did go to issue your order to that enslaved person, but she was already out and about by then. I will convey your message to that salve as soon as I find her."
The nanny bowed low, ensuring her aging back cracked before the princess.
She wanted to look as pitiful as possible so that the princess would take pity on her.
"Oh really? Do you have any proof that you are speaking the truth?"
The princess's presence caused the nanny's breath to hitch. However, despite her fear of the princess, the nanny showed a fearless face.
"I have served you for 20 years and been with you since birth. My years of service speak my undying loyalty, princess. Anything I do, it is for your sake."
The nanny kept her head bowed, but her pride sparkled in her words.
Even the guard who heard her speak could feel her sincerity.
But then, what did the princess who received this loyalty and confessions think? The nanny wanted to know this, so she tried to look at the princess's face.
However, that was a mistake because the princess's cold eyes forced the nanny to look down again.
'What has displeased the princess this much? Does she not like that I am loyal to her? Does she want something else from me? How do I interpret this situation now? I need to make the princess relax.'
"Princess Yunjin, I-"
"That will be enough, Nanny. I am happy that you respect me and care for me. For that reason, I will spare your life this time. But can you stay away from my office for a day? I don't want to hurt you accidentally."
Princess Yunjin's voice returned to her usual soft voice, causing the nanny to breathe out in relief.
She had just dodged a bullet.
"I shall follow your order, princess. Please, rest in your room today."
The nanny quickly made her way out of the room and closed the door behind her.
As soon as she was out, she looked at the guard before the door and glared at him.
"Make sure her Highness does not leave her room. If you fail to follow my words, prepare for some hard times ahead."
The nanny was limping as she walked out of the hallway, but even her quaking figure did not lessen the dignity and fear that she invoked.
'H-How do you expect me to stop Princess Yunjin if she wants to go out? I am dead no matter what happens.'
The guard felt cold and hot at the same time.
Just when the guard felt his heartbeat calm down, the door slowly opened, causing his heart rate to pick up again.
"P-Princess, y-y-you cannot go out…."
"I cannot? Are you sure you can stop me?"
The princess asked, causing the guard to look away instantly.
Danger lurked around him, and the guard lost consciousness for a moment before he realized that the princess had lost interest in him and was leaving him behind.
'I-I need to go and catch up with the princess right now.'
The princess walked past the guards of the outer wall, but they were too well-trained to ask her any questions.
"Princess, the emperor will be arriving at any time. Are you here to wait for-"
"I will be back soon. If my brother arrives during that time, sit him in the dining room and serve breakfast without me."
The princess ordered without looking at her retainer.
No one questioned the princess's choice as she sniffed the air outside.
She looked like a white lion, with her overall white attire and the fur on her shoulder.
The guard was paying attention to the princess, that was why he noticed the way the princess's eyes changed in-between before she started walking.
They had narrowed, just like a cat's did when it caught a desirable scent.
And then, the walking began.
The princess was fast on her feet as she walked toward the stables.
Several loud noises could be heard from inside the stables, causing the guard to be worried. But the princess looked unbothered as she approached the building.
"-cannot do anything right. Hurry up and take this to the feeding coup. My god! Why do we have to teach the new servants everything? They cannot even do a simple job as feeding these animals."
The guard cringed when he saw the new stable boy ordering the slaves around. Then he remembered that boy had only been here for a short while but acted like he owned the place.
His father was a government minister, and the stable boy was noble.
There had even been rumors of an accident with this boy's superior before the poor superior had to take an emergency leave.
'I see. Since his superior is missing, the stable boy must have decided it was right to disturb his workload to people below him. It is not an uncommon practice and happens often.'
No one usually paid attention to such a thing, and even if a noble noticed this favor, they did not say much.
The princess was also among the nobles who never cared about a superior offsetting their load on someone else.
'Why did the princess bring me here? What is she planning to do? My instincts are telling me that I am in danger.'
"Princess, maybe we should head back-"
"The last time I checked, the stable work was assigned to adult males with enough muscle mass to back this kind of work. Who decided to appoint one of my guards to this place?"
The princess's words chilled the guard. The tone she had used had been rough and cutting.
The princess looked like a predator ready to hunt unsuspecting prey.